Rotary steam-engine.



E. P. EDGAR.

ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1906.

902,059. Patented 0013.27, 1908.

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E. F. EDGAR.

ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED we. 10,1909.

902,059. Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

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E. F. EDGAR.

ROTARY STEAM ENGINE. APP IIIIIIIII IL E D A U G 1 0 1 9 0 8.

902,059. Patented Oct. 27, 1908. o BHIiI 2TS*SI IBET a.

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ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

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INVENTOR E. P. EDGAR.

ROTARY STEAM ENGINE APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 10, 1908.

902,059, Patented Oct. 27; 1908.

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ELLIS F. EDGAR, OF WOODBRIDGE, NEW JERSEY.

ROTARY STEAM-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 10, 1908.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908. Serial No. 447,663.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELLIs F. EDGAR, citizen of the United States, and resident of VVoodbridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Steam-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

Figure 1 is an outside plan view of an eleven cylinder engine shown covered with asbestos, leaving to view valves, piping, operating handle of clutch rods, cams and cam shafts geared to driving shaft. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation view through one cylinder at AB in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross section elevation view at A-B in Fig. 2 with piston at top showing cylinder at bottom. Fig. 4 is a section view of a double disk puppet cut-off valve. Fig. 5 is an end view of roller and operating rod. Fig. 6 is a side view of roller and operating rod. Fig. 7 is a section view of piston showing bull ring. Fig. 8 is a section view of piston showing steam inlets. Fig. 9 is a plan view of piston. Fig. 10 is a section view at AB in Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a view of one end of piston shaft with cap and roller bearings, also ball bearings. Fig. 12 is a side elevation view of the multiple cam. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the multiple cam. Fig. 14 is a front end view of the multiple cam. Fig. 15 is a cross sec- Fig. 16 is a cross section view at C-D in Fig. 12. Fig. 17 is a cross section view at EF in Fig. 12. Fig. 18 is a cross section view at GH in Fig. 12.

I had in view in designing this engine, a compact and powerful engine capable of using steam at a high pressure and temperature and expanding the steam to any pressure desired, thereby obtaining the desired economy and to eliminate friction except at places where I used red metal or similar lead bearing mixture to take the wear and these surfaces to be as narrow as possible which lessens the frictional load and are easy to get at to replace.

Details of Construction.

1, driving shaft, 2, piston driving wheel, 3 cylinder, 4 outside casing, 5, piston, 6, piston shaft, 7, inlet for steam to the piston and exit for condensation, 8, condensation drain from bottom of cylinder, 9, bulk head or division of cylinder, 10, packing strip of bulkhead, 11, key securing piston driving wheel and driving shaft together 12, puppet cut-off valve, 13, piston for balancing puppet cutoff valve, 13, upper disk of the double disk puppet cut-oif valve, 14, valve stem, 15, operating rod, whereby the puppet cut-off valve is opened and closed automatically by the multiple cam, 16, earn point, 17, multiple cam shaft, 18, clutch, 19, clutch shaft, 20,

multiple cam, 21, levers for operating clutch shafts, 22, valve to open when the engine is reversed to allow the exhaust to go to the condenser, 23, valve to be opened when the engine is not running reversed, 24, T, containing throttling governor through which the steam passes at all times from the steam generatorto the engine, 25, valve to be opened when engine is running reversed, 26, valve to be open when engine is not running reversed to allow the exhaust to pass to the condenser, 27, live steam line when engine is not running reversed, 28, exhaust line when engine is not running reversed, 29, metal rope packing, 30, red metal packing in face of piston driving wheel on each side of cylinder, 31, oil cup for lubricating roller bearings on end of piston shaft, 32, recess carrying cap containing roller'bearings on end of piston shaft, 33, cap for tightening metal rope packing, 34, filling plug of piston, 35,sup )orts for cam and ratchet shafts, 36, gear whee connecting cam shafts to driving shafts, 37, cap containing roller bearings on ends of piston shaft, 38, rollers, 39, ball bearing at end of piston shaft, 40, red metal bull ring in face of piston, 41, passage for the inlet of steam under piston when engine is running reversed, 42, openings connecting chamber above upper disk to chamber below lower disk in the double disk puppet cut-off valve, 43, recess in multiple cam for clutch arm, 44, red metal bearing for driving shaft, 45, heads or ends of the engines cylinder casing, 46, slot for piston shaft.

General Description.

This engine consists of a driving shaft,

three or more piston driving wheels, secured thereto, each piston driving wheel having a pocket, preferably bored. round and milled, containing a long piston round in form, with red metal packing strips near each end to cause a tight fit of the piston in the piston pocket. One end of this piston is flattened and preferably half circle in cross section, to fit into a cylinder encompassing the outer circle of said piston driving wheel, said cylinder preferably half circle in cross section, as

shown in Fig. 3. This cylinder is located between the red metal packing strips, as shown in Fig. 3. These packing strips located in a recess in the outer periphery of said piston driving wheel have sufficient bearing against the inner face of the casing around cylinder 3 to prevent any leakage of steam from cylinder 3. The outer periphery of said piston driving wheel between said red metal strips -forms one side of said half circle cylinder as shown in Fig. 3. Preferably I would build this engine in not less than six cylinders in diameter of two and three feet and in ten or twelve cylinders in diameters of four or five feet, as there is no compounding in this engine. Each cylinder being connected to the live steam line from the generator to the inlet port, and each cylinders exhaust port being connected to an exhaust line leading to a condenser, thereby requiring an early out-off to get the required expansions of the steam, therefore to obtain the proper II. P. com bined with the economy it will be seen the numbers of cylinders must increase with the diameter.

In small engines several cylinders can be built in one outside casing, and one head to each end of said casing, but in large engines it is of advantage to increase the length by more cylinders rather than to increase the diameter of the cylinders. It will be seen in so doing that the individual cylinder with its individual casing as shown in Fig. 3, each having its own base, forms an increased hearing on the shaft, also on the floor thereby preventing any sagging of the driving shaft which would soon cause disaster.

It will be seen in Fig. 3 that I show the piston all the way down in its pocket as it is directly under the packing strip in the bulkhead. This piston is moved in and out of its pocket by piston shaft 6, which runs through the piston and a narrow slot 46, which is just wide enou h for the shaft and long enough for the stro *e in and out of the cylinder to prevent any leakage from the top of the piston. I have a red metal packing strip running around the piston fitting tight in the pocket just above the slot 46. This piston shaft has on each end a cap containing roller bearings, said cap and roller bearings is shown in enlarged details in Figs. 10 and 1].. This cap and roller bearings on the ends of piston shaft 6, is carried in recess 32, the form of which carries the piston in its pocket in passing under the bulkhead and out as it comes under the inlet port. hen this piston is down in its pocket as shown in Fig. 3 it slides over a plug fastened in the bottom of the pocket, which also has a packing strip to make a tight fit in the piston, this plug also being round. This plug is secured in the bottom of the pocket. The piston does not slide all the way down, leaving a slight clearance at the bottom of the piston for steam which enters through passage ll, when the engine is running reversed. When the engine is not running reversed, steam enters the piston through passage 7. It will be seen that the plug causes two distinct steam chambers, which aids in balancing the piston. This piston is shown in enlarged de tails in Figs. 7 and 8, showing plainly the red metal bull ring on the face of the piston, which enters the cylinder, also the bore for the shaft and the filling plug 34. It will be seen that with only three cylinders and three pistons that the steam should follow one third of the stroke; this could be shortened by increasing the speed of the engine, but three or four cylinders would not be as economical, therefore I prefer to construct with six or more, according to the diameter of the engine.

In securing the piston driving wheels to the driving shaft, they should be set in such a manner as to divide the distance equally between pistons, for instance, in a four cylinder engine and the piston wheels 4 feet in diameter, which would be 12 feet in circumference, in starting, when the piston of the first cylinderpasses under and is 3 feet from the inlet port, the piston in the second cylinder would just be passing under its inlet port and when the first piston had traveled six feet and the second piston three feet the third piston would be passing under its inlet port andv when the first piston had traveled nine feet, the second piston six feet and the third piston three feet, the fourth' piston would just be passing under its inlet port and when the fourth piston has moved three feet, the first piston is again coming under its inlet port and the multiple cams are so set as to raise the puppet valve on each inlet port just as the piston has passed it and the same method to be carried out in any number of cylinders.

The puppet cut-off valve I prefer to use is the one shown in Fig. 4. This puppet valve I have designed not only to be balanced by the two disks, but as the cam raises the disks from their seats, and while the steam flows out around the lower disk to the cylinder, it also flows up over the upper disk in the small chamber above the upper disk, and by the size of the upper chamber in conjunction with the number and size of small holes, 42, the speed of closing this valve can be regulated. In starting, this engine lever 21, which operates the multiple cams, should be moved to the last notch on the exhaust side, which will open these valves to their full width, and they will remain so, then the other lever on the live steam side should be moved to next to the last notch, which will let in live steam in as many of the cylinders, as desired, by the construction of the multiple cam. When the engine is running the lever may be moved to any desired cutoff, according to the construction of the mul tiple cam. This engine with this multiple cam and this balanced double disk puppet valve shown in Fig. 4, in engines of two feet in diameter and more and not less than six ing a pocket containing a piston and each piston driving wheel having a cylinder surrounding said piston driving wheel, said cylinder having a bulkhead or division, said piston having one end made to fit in said cylinder and means for moving said piston in and out of said cylinder, said cylinder having an exhaust connecting to an exhaust line, leading to a condenser and an inlet port connected through a puppet cut-off valve to a steam line from a steam generator, said puppet cut-off valve governing the flow of steam to said inlet port in conjunction with a multiple cam, whereby the steam maybelet in as many of the cylinders in starting as desired, and cut off automatically at any desired point, and capable of being operated in reversing in the same manner, all substantially as set forth.

2. A rotary engine comprising a driving shaft, a series of piston driving wheels secured thereto, each piston driving wheel having a pocket containing a piston and each piston driving wheel having a cylinder surrounding said piston driving wheel, said cylinder having a bulkhead or division, said piston having one end made to fit in said cylinder, and means for moving said piston in and out of said cylinder, said cylinder having an ex- 7 haust connecting to an exhaust line leading to a condenser and an inlet port, a cutoff valve governing the flow of steam to said inlet port in conjunction with a multiple cam whereby the steam may be let in as many of the cylinders in starting as desired and cut off automatically at any desired point, and capable of being operated in reversing in the same manner, all substantially as set forth.

A rotary engine comprising a driving shaft, a series of piston driving wheels se cured thereto, not less than six in number, each piston driving wheel having a pocket containing a'piston and each piston driving wheel having a cylinder half circle in cross section, surrounding said piston driving wheel, said cylinder havinga bulkhead or division, said piston having one end half circle in cross section to fit in said cylinder and a shaft running through said iston, having on its ends a cap containing roflers and supported in grooves in such a manner as to move said piston in and outof said cylinder, said cylinder having an exhaust connecting to an exhaust line leading to a condenser and an inlet ort connected through a puppet cutoff va ve to a steam line from a steam generator, said puppet cut-off valve governing the flow of steam to said inlet port in conjunction with a multiple cam, whereby the steam may be let in as many of the cylinders in starting as desired, and cut off automatically at any desired point, and: capable of being operated. in reversing in the same manner, all substantially as set forth.

4. A rotary engine comprising adriving shaft, a series of piston driving wheels, secured thereto, not less than ten in number, each piston driving wheel having apocket containing a piston and each piston driving wheel having a cylinder half circle in cross section surrounding said piston driving wheel, said cylinder having a bulkhead or division, said piston having one end half circle in cross section to fit in said cylinder, and a shaft running through said piston, having on its ends a cap containing rollers and sup ported in grooves in such a manner as to move said piston in and out of said cylinder, said cylinder having an exhaust connecting to an exhaust line leading to a condenser, and an inlet ort connected through a puppet cut-oil va ve to a steam line from asteam generator said puppet cut-off valve governing the flow of steam to said inlet port in conjunction with a multiple cam, whereby the steam may be let in as many of the cylinders in starting as desired, and cut off automatically at any desired point, and capable of being operated in reversing in the same manner, all substantially as set forth.

5. A rotary engine comprising a driving shaft, a series of piston driving wheels secured thereto, each piston driving wheel having a pocket containing a piston driving Wheel having a cylinder half circle in cross section surrounding said piston driving wheel, and a packing strip located on each side of said cylinder, said cylinder havinga bulkhead or division, said piston havingone end half circle in cross section to fit in said cylinder, containing a bull ring on its surface of a lead-containing metal and a shaft running through said piston, having on its ends a cap containing rollers and supported in grooves in such a manner as to move said piston in and out of said. cylinder, said cylinder having an exhaust connecting to an exhaust line leading to a condenser and an inlet port connected through a puppet cutoff valve to a steam line from a steam generator, said puppet cut-off valve governing the flow of steam to said inlet port in conjunction with a multiple cam, whereby the steam may be let in as many of the cylinders in starting as desired and cut off automatically at any desired point, and capable of being operated in reversing in the same manner, all substantially as set forth.

6. A rotary engine comprising a driving shaft, a series of piston driving Wheels secured thereto more than ten in number, each piston driving Wheel haying a pocket containing a piston and each piston driving Wheel having a cylinder surrounding said piston dri wing Wheel, said cylinder having a bulkhead or division, said piston having one end made to lit in said cylinder and means for moving said piston in and out of said cylinder, said cylinder having an exhaust connecting to an exhaust line leading to a condenser and an inlet port connected through a puppet cut-oil valve to a steam line from a steam generator, said puppet cut-ofl' valye governing the flow of steam to said inlet port in conjunction With a multiple cam, whereby, the steam may be let in as many of the cylinders in starting as desired and cut off auto matically at any desired point, and capable of being 0 erated in reversing in the same manner, al substantially as set forth.

7. A rotary engine comprising a circular cylinder having an inlet port and an exhaust port, a puppet cut-off valve in conjunction with a multiple cam, governing the flow of steam to said cylinder, whereby the steam may be automatically cut off at any desired point, and capable of being 0 )erated in reversing in the same manner, all substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 7th day of August A. D. 1908.

ELLIS F. EDGAR. Witnesses ELLIS B. EDGAR, I. B. EDGAR. 

